Closure for concrete-mixers.



A. G. OLSEN.

CLOSURE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS. APPLICATION men FEB. 6. 1915.

1,259,769. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

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CLOSURE FOR CONCRETE MIXERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6,1915.

L fifi o Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

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ALFRED G. OLSEN, OF ELKHORN, WISCONSIN.

CLOSURE FOR CONCBETE-MIXERS.

for Concrete-Mixers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in concrete mixing apparatus, and more particularly to certain improved means for controlling the discharge of concrete from a mixer.

Among the objects in view are the maintenance of the discharge end of a mixer closed when discharge is not required, elimination of frictional resistance incident to the presence of the closure, and the automatic sustaining of the closure in position.

'With these and further objects in view as will in part hereinafter be pointed out and in part become apparent, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, com binations, and arrangements of parts as will be herein specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a concrete mixer supplied with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of the machine including the improved cap or closure and omitting the drums.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a frame work in which the dual mixing drums 2 and 3 are journaled, the former drum being adapted to receive and mix concrete material in a dry state, while drum 3 is adapted to receive the mixed material from drum 2 and to further mix the same while water is being supplied thereto. A water supply pipe 4 extends through the intake opening 0 drum 2 and across the same into drum 3, the pipe 4 being movably mounted and carrying a chute 5 adapted to' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3.9, 1918.

Application filed February 6, 1915. Serial No. 6,584.

move with the pipe from within the drum 3 to within drum 2 for directin material from the latter to the former. a door or closing plate 6 is also carried by pipe 4 in position for closing the inner end of drum 3 whenthe chute is located in the drum 3, and the material is being mixed in drum 2 and not being discharged into drum 3. Drum 2 is driven by appropriate gearing from any appropriate source of power, and as drum 3 is carried by drum 2, it rotates therewith. The drum 3 tapers longitudinally so that material moving along the drum toward the discharge end is required to move up an incline. Appropriate blades are provided for effecting this result, and appropriate blades are provided in drum 2 for agitating concrete material, in operation lifting the same and dropping it across the drum So that when the chute 5 is positioned in drum 4, it will direct material therefrom into drum 3.

Extending laterally on an u ward incline from frame 1 are brackets 7 one bracket being arranged at each side of drum 3 and each bracket consisting of a pair of upwardly converging rods, the rods being preferably tubular for the sake of lightness, each bolted or otherwise appropriately fixed to the frame 1. At the upper end of each bracket 7, a cap plate 8 fits over the upper ends of the two rods forming the respective bracket and carries a laterally inclined plate 9, to which is pivoted an arm 10, there being two of the arms 10, one engaging each bracket, and the two arms converging and being formed integral with or fixed to a sleeve or socket 11. The lateral inclination of the plate 9 is such that when the baillike member formed of the arms 10 is swung back to its uppermost position, the parts of the arms adjacent the pivots bind against the plates 9 and support the sleeve 11 and parts carried thereby in the elevated position.

A funnel shaped cap plate 12 is provided at its larger and with a ring 13 adapted to surround the discharge end of drum 3, the said discharge end being bound by a ring 14 fixed to the drum 3 a little in the, rear of the extreme end of the drum and against which the ring 13 abuts when the cap 12 is closed upon the drum. The cap 12 converges from ring 13 substantially to an apex where it is formed integral with or fixed to a plate 15 fixed to .or formed integral with a shaft 16, journaled in the sleeve 11 and formed with an annular groove 17, into which extends the inner projecting end of a set screw 18, threaded through the sleeve 11 and engaging the shaft 16 to sustain the cap 12 against disconnection from the sleeve. It is preferable to supply the sleeve or socket 11 with a lubricant to avoid friction and wear, and it is to be noted that the fact that the cap 12 is closed at its outer end insures against concrete finding its way over into contact with shaft 16 or into the bearing sleeve.

In operation, the material, having been mixed in drum 2, is discharged by falling on to chute 6, positioned for the purpose, into drum 3, where it is moistened with water supplied through pipe 4, the cap 12 being left closed until a portion of the concrete is ready for discharge. During the continued operation of the machine, the concrete is worked along the drum 3 and into the cap 12 until the cap is filled or partially filled and a quantity of concrete is deposited at the discharge end of drum 3. Thereupon, the operator laces a receptacle beneath the discharge end and ranging outwardly therefrom, and then, grasping sleeve 11, manually lifts the cap 12 to an elevated position, which causes the concrete within the cap to be discharged by gravity into the receptacle, while the unsupported concrete at the discharge end of drum 3 also falls into the receptacle. The operator then lowers the cap 13 to its closed position and removes the receptacle. By the time the material is disposed of from the receptacle, and the receptacle is ready to be replaced, another load will have collected in the cap and at the end of the drum, whereupon the operation described is repeated. Should it become desirable for any cause to leave the drum open, it is only necessary to swing the cap back until the arms 10 bind against plates 9, and the cap will then remain in the elevated position. However, when the cap is lowered to its closed position, it remains closed even against the pressure of concrete entering the cap since the cap is considerably below the plane of its pivotal support and outward therefrom, so that it tends to swing inward that is, in a direction substantially axial of drum 3 and toward drum 4.

What I claim is 1. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a rotary tapering drum, of a pivotally mounted support, and a cover for the drum menace rotatably sustained by the support, the cover bail-like support pivotally mounted and rotatably carrying said closure and adapted to swing past and at times to surround parts of the drum.

3. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a rotary drum, of a hollow, funnelshaped closure therefor, a pivotally mounted support, and a journal bearing carried by said support and engaged by the apex portion of the closure.

4. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a rotary drum, of converging arms forming a bail-like support extending on opposite sides of the drum, pivotal supports for the arms above the drum, a bearing sleeve sustained by the arms substantially at the juncture thereof, a drum closure, and a shaft fixed to and extending outward from the closure and journaled in the sleeve.

5. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a frame-work and a rotary drum sustained thereby, of brackets fixed to the frame-work independently of the drum and extending on opposite sides thereof to a point ad acent to and above the discharge end of the drum, arms pivoted to the upper portions of the brackets and converging to a point of juncture, and a closure for the drum rotatably sustained by the arms.

6. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a frame-work and a rotary drum sustained thereby, of brackets fixed to the frame-work independently of the drum and extending on opposite sides thereof to a point adjacent to and above the discharge pivots of the arms being above and spaced inwardly along the drum from the closure.

7. In mixing mechanism, the combination with a frame-work and a rotary drum sustained thereby, of brackets fixed to the frame-work independently of the drum and extending on opposite sides thereof to a point adjacent to and above the discharge end of the drum, arms pivoted to the upper portions of the brackets and converging. to a point of juncture, a closure for the drum rotatably sustained by the arms, the pivots of the arms being above and spaced inwardly along the drum from the closure, and stops for limiting the arms in their pivotal movement in the direction of opening the closure, the said stops being disposed to sustain the closure in an open position.

memes 4 g 8. In mixing mechanism, the combination, ing into communication with the discharge with a rotary tapering drum and a support end of the drum. therefor, of a, cover support pivotally sus- In testimony whereof 1 afix my signature tained by the drum support, and a cover in presence of two witnesses.

5 for the drum rotatably sustained by the ALFRED Gr OLSEN cover support in position to engage the dis- Witnesses: charge end of the drum, the cover being a JAY W. PAGE,

conical container flaring toward and open- JnANErrn WILSON. 

